Would you retire to a Middle Eastern playground if you could?

[GiveUsThisDayOurDailyPizza]

For example UAE, Qatar

I will probably never be a high net worth individual anyway but even if I was I can’t imagine choosing to spend my retirement years in such places.

Work and live there for a few years to get ahead financially, yes, or a long layover on the way to somewhere else but what makes so many UK expats want to retire there?

This is prompted by something that came up at work. I’d love to understand the appeal as I have to interact with people for whom this is a long term ambition or plan.

I don't base my holiday choices on human rights or say things like I wouldn't go to Turkey/America because I personally didn't agree with the political leaders.

My objections to Dubai and similar are the climate, the gaudiness, the "bling" of it all. It's just not me at all and I wouldn't visit on holiday, never mind live there. I suppose it's appealing to those people who just want guaranteed sunshine, shopping, and a "glamourous" lifestyle.

No. Never. Couldn't think of anything worse!

Absolutely not for all the reasons mentioned above. A deserted island in Scottish Highlands however would be perfect.

Obviously not an island in the middle of the Highlands 🙄

Not for work, hols or retirement. Lack of womems rights, slave labour and bleak from an environmental point of view.

Reportedly 1 in 2 women feels unsafe walking by herself after dark in UK.
How is that freedom?

No way. Far too hot before you even get on to the rest of it.

Lebanon has lovely mountains with nice climate. Shame about what happened to the country😔

I wouldn't want to retire there but would consider working there for a couple of years.

God no.

No human rights - it's a no

This thread was only ever going to go one way

I am not a fan of UAE (and have been) so would personally prefer Spain or Greece or Italy if I wanted sun

It wasall a bit inauthentic for me and based on bling and malls. Ok for a week out of season for the sun if you can get past the ethics - but I would want a bit more reality to retire there. It's not cheap either and I didn't find food standards that special

Same here. I'd sooner retire to Hell.

I have zero interest in visiting one of those places, let alone going to live one!

You don’t think being able to make that risk assessment and choice for yourself is important? You’d be happy to abdicate that to someone else, and give them the power to punish you if you don’t do as they see fit?

I wouldn't retire to the ME, but having lived abroad a lot until quite recently I would say that expat life is quite addictive so I can see why people want to finish off out there if that's there thing.
Yes, human rights are an issue in some parts of the ME. However, I have seen similar if not worse treatment of low paid migrant workers in other parts of the world including places like Hong Kong and Singapore which seem to be spared the same level of mumsnet hatred.

Op wasn't asking about Afghanistan... ME is big and not all strict as some here are making out.

I travel to Middle East frequently for work (Saudi, Dubai etc).

There are certainly some positives. The weather, high standard of living, food is pretty amazing in some of these places. However, culture doesn't fit well with my personal view, the lack of history/architecture (Dubai) isn't to my taste, I always miss the wine with my evening meal.

So not a place I would consider moving to but going for 2 weeks at a time has its appeal, knowing I can come back home!

Not a hope in hell. I would never even go on holiday somewhere that those I love would risk prison or death if they also visited.

Having lived in that part of the world for 13 years, no thanks! Though I did mostly enjoy it at the time.

Never, I’d be happier in Benidorm.

Never.
If I got a holiday for free I would refuse to get on the plane.

No, and I say that as someone who frequently travels to the Middle East for work.

I'm much rather retire to somewhere more liberal and laid back. Amsterdam if they'd have me, that way I could be European again.

Scandinavia.